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How Does Shakespeare Present Claudius Selfish

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Claudius is often depicted as the main villain in the Shakespearean play, Hamlet. In the first act we meet the ghost and learn that Hamlet’s father was ruthlessly murdered by Claudius. This is only the beginning of Claudius’ villainous reign that we witness throughout Hamlet's plot. Claudius is the personification of selfishness; murdering his brother just to take control of the kingdom. However, in this soliloquy he also shows that the guilt of what he did is weighing heavily on him. One of the most perfect examples of Claudius’ behavior is in Act 3, Scene III. Claudius is trying to reason with himself about whether or not he would be damned for murdering the king. He says “A brother's murder. Pray I can not, Though inclination be as sharp as will: My stronger guilt defeats my …show more content…

Another trait that Claudius’ possesses is his selfishness. There are many times in Hamlet that Claudius behaved very selfishly. In this soliloquy, Claudius is trying to rationalize what he did. But in trying to rationalize his crime, he questions if he can still have the benefits of the aftermath. He says “That cannot be; since I am still possess'd Of those effects for which I did the murder, My crown, mine own ambition and my queen. May one be pardon'd and retain the offence?(III, iii, 52-56)” This is an incredibly selfish statement. In this soliloquy, Claudius continually asks for forgiveness but he confirms in this quote that he still wants what his actions have gotten him. He is saying that he doesn’t know if he can gain forgiveness but still keep all of the benefits of being king and his queen. The last trait that Claudius is insincere. At the end of this soliloquy Claudius says, “My words fly up, my thoughts remain below: Words without thoughts never to heaven go.

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Like many British rulers (e.g., Henry IV, Elizabeth I, Richard III), Claudius kills a family member, performing “an act of state” and following “a tradition which every English monarch had had to accept for two hundred years” (45). Once on the throne, he must begin the process of securing his position: praising the dead king, forming political alliances, marrying Gertrude, dealing with the threat of Fortinbras, conciliating ministers (e.g., Polonius), and attempting a reconciliation with his primary rival Hamlet. Because Hamlet refuses to embrace the new king, Claudius must engage in spying tactics to gain knowledge about his potential enemy and, ultimately, decide to terminate the threat. But in Shakespeare’s political tragedy (unlike the realities of British history), murderers are destined to fail. Aside from the fact that all of his supporters die (e.g., Polonius, Laertes), Claudius proves a weak leader because he “invariably prefers compromise to confrontation, placatory gestures to open defiance” (51-52).

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However, Claudius does not care. By doing this speech he displays his power to everyone and has their attention to return to him. This attention-greedy trait of Claudius would help him achieve the greatest possible outcome in any situation because he has the determination to look very dominant in the public eye. Not only does Claudius do anything to appear powerful but he will do anything to retain power even if it means sacrificing forgiveness to keep his position as king. Claudius expresses true feelings about murdering his brother as he prays: “My crown, mine own ambition and my queen May one be pardon’d and retain this offence?”

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Adding on to the use of literary devices, Shakespeare tends to use excessive questioning an abundant amount throughout the soliloquy, “ Forgive me my foul murder?” ( Line 18) it displays his indecisiveness and the conflict that has been brewing inside of him for a while, Claudius is reaching a boiling point where he has no choice but to make a decision, whether to confess and make up for the sins that he has committed or continue the burden with the sin on his shoulders and keep it a long-held secret. Shakespeare utilizing the use of questions helped further accentuate Claudius character as a man of uncertainty between good and evil and right and

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Claudius is then compared to the internal organs of slaves and a man without morals, remorse or kindness (Ham.2.2.607-608). The powerful metaphors and adjectives used to describe Claudius not only express Hamlet’s intense contempt and disdain towards him, but also serve to convince Hamlet to commit murder. However, Hamlet depicts himself as a whore, a prostitute, and a swearing kitchen maid (Ham.2.2.614-616), reiterating the notion that he is worthless, as well as weak for expressing his emotions through words rather than actions. The shift from metaphors to similes indicate Hamlet’s failure to move past his cowardice and proceed with an act of revenge that would inflict

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In great literature there are often characters who are deceitful to others to carry out a greater purpose. By doing so the character often compromises relationships with friends and family but it can also compromise the safety of the character and others around them. In the play Hamlet Shakespeare uses Hamlet’s character to elaborate on this situation, Claudius is deceiving his family and friends for a greater purpose which at times seems to do more bad than good. Claudius deceives many people in the tragedy Hamlet.

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However, Hamlet’s goes through a journey of different feelings towards this motivation. Hamlet is initially ardent to kill Claudius, driven by his anger and hate towards him. For example, Hamlet describes his hate for Claudius when he exclaims, “O villain, villain, smiling, damnèd villain!... At least I’m sure it may be so in Denmark (1.5.107–110). His description of Claudius as the villain shows that Hamlet seeks to commit justice for the corruption that Claudius has brought about.

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The idea of corruption in the kingdom is brought up early on in the novel, when the audience first learns of the treachery that Claudius committed. The idea of absolute power corrupted Claudius to an extent that he would do anything to be at the helm of the throne. Claudius even admits that his “Offence is rank, it

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Though Hamlet may earn love from the people of Denmark, Claudius earns respect. Some may argue it is better to be loved than feared as a leader, but Claudius’ resilience in his quest to murder Hamlet proves

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As Claudius repents, Hamlet feels as though it's the best time to kill him until he says: And so ’a goes to Heaven; And so am I revenged. That would be scanned. A villain kills my father; and for that, I, his son, do this same villain send To heaven (3.3.73-78) Essentially, Hamlet wanted to murder Claudius because he was the Old King’s murderer.

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Pray can I not, though inclination be as sharp as will: my stronger guilt defeats my strong intent” (III.iii.39-41). Claudius is admitting to himself that he betrayed his family murdered his brother in order to become king. Claudius and Polonius both meet their demise after countless betrayals of those who trusted

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First of all, King Claudius’s ambition to become the next King of Denmark causes him to lose his conscience. As King Hamlet’s ghost reveals the truth of his death, he anguishes, “Thus was I [King Hamlet], sleeping, by a brother’s hand, Of life, of crown, of queen at once dispatched” (1.5.81-82). The throne of Denmark motivates King Claudius to slay his own biological brother to succeed King Hamlet’s “crown”. His desire to gain power has overwhelming covered up his moral values.

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Claudius had arranged an execution for Hamlet, to get rid of him permanently. Behind these acts of deception, we can see Claudius had wanted power, and would do anything to achieve it. This makes

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O cursed spite, That I ever was born to set it right.”- Hamlet (1/5 pg. 96). Here he questioned if he truly wanted to kill Claudius and how he ended up with the responsibility in the first place. Once again Hamlet was unsure if he is even capable of killing

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what rests?”(64) and answers that repentance may be able to help him. However, he realizes that he has already committed a sin and it is difficult to repent because his ambition is more important to him. Through the repletion of “O”, Claudius further emphasizes his regret. Furthermore, the simile and imagery, “bosom black as death” (67) to express the grief he feels. He asks for help of angels and hopes that “all may be well” (72).

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Claudius himself is another example of the complexity of action shown in the story, for after executing his own sibling and therefore gaining access to the crown, the haunting memories of his action taunt him until his final breath

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